Scotland outlines obesity battle

The country, which has one of the world's highest rates of heart disease, has put forward plans on how to treat obesity across the nation.

Options, such as ways of increasing the amount of exercise people do, were put forward in a joint strategy from the Scottish government and COSLA, which represents Scottish local authorities.

The publication described ways of working with schools and businesses to encourage pupils and employees to eat healthily and be more active in their daily lives.

Public health minister Shona Robinson commented: "We cannot expect people to be able to change their behaviour alone as the environment we live in today means that for most people weight gain becomes almost inevitable.

"Excellent work is already underway but we have to go further and make serious changes that will transform our entire living environment."

Other plans to tackle the epidemic included the expansion of healthy food choices available in shops and restaurants and the provision of safe walking and cycling routes for children to get to school.